Jim Dailey

When I sat down today to add a blog entry I had no intention of writing about my mom.  That said, here I am composing a short message about her, one week and one day after her death. Our family and friends are still experiencing a sense of loss but gratitude as we celebrate a beautiful life story of an incredible woman.

The black and white picture is of mom and me circa 1942. The color picture is one taken by Patti’s and my son Jeff within the past year.  Though 90 plus years separate the two pictures there is one clear unmistakable identifier, her smile. I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of her that failed to capture her inner spirit and genuineness displayed for all to see through her captivating smile.

Ellen Teresa Mattingly Dailey was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife, sister, friend and business woman. She was a strong Catholic known for her consummate belief in the power of prayer and her relentless generosity to the Church, to Mount Saint Mary School for girls and Catholic High School for Boys. She was loving, gentle and gracious but could stand strong and tall on principle such as charging employees of Dailey’s Furniture Company twenty five cents anytime she heard a curse word slip from their lips.  (all collections went to a charity.)

In retirement, she devoted herself to family,  to helping my sister Kathy with the Auction business, and to making regular fun filled trips to play penny slots in Tunica.  On Monday evenings she fixed dinner for me, Patti and our sons DJ and Jeff.  Even during my years as Mayor, everyone knew monday evening was mom’s. On Sundays she played cards with her sister/best friend, Frances and brother, John.  She still drove her 10 year old car to her hair appointment and to the grocery store, where she knew every best deal down to the penny.

I could go on and on … maybe there is a book to be written … a book filled with life lessons, lessons of humility, grace, integrity, holiness, generosity, strength and commitment to that which is really important.  Though she is gone physically, her teachings and her spirit live on in each of us blessed to have been touched by her or included in her life.  Kathy, Stephanie and Patti will probably feel the emptiness the most, but …

I miss you mom!  You are my hero forever.

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Stanley Ski Team …. SST

Here is the note I sent to my ski buddies after the 2012 ski trip.  We have been going on a trip each year for over 30 years. Stanley is the last name of the original founding father of SST.

 Once again, it was a special treat to be with the best friends in the world.  In a very small way, I miss skiing with the group but in a very big way I enjoy our time together and will do all I can to attend for as long as the Good Lord allows.  I certainly don’t wish to be maudlin, but John made a prophetic and profound statement when he said “we will probably not be doing this ten years from now”.

 The evening discussions, especially the evening discussing family histories was a highlight for me … as different as we may be, there is a common thread we all share.  We are family oriented, we obviously value true friendships, for the most part we are fairly conservative (a couple maybe more than “fairly conservative”), we are self starting, entrepreneurial guys … in most cases from self starting entrepreneurial roots, we are fundamentally Christian, God fearing men with strong work ethics and, by golly, strong play ethics… I repeat, Strong Play Ethics!!!  Who would ever have thought for 31 or 32 or 33 years, a group like ours would click, stay together, take a trip each year together, schedule lunch every Friday together and for all these years keep this exercise right at the top of our priority lists.  Who would have thought?  Who would have thought a Dermatologist, Ad guy, a coffin salesman, a funeral director,  an asbestos tester, an architect, a refrigeration/electric supplier, a jeweler and a politician could find enough in common to embark on this adventure, and even more significant, to continue it for so many years.  Ours truly is a unique story..a meaningful, enriching celebration of friendship.  I thank each of you. 

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With all the recent publicity about the firing of Coach Bobby Petrino, I must share something I witnessed wednesday evening while attending a joint meeting of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Parks, Travel and Tourism Commission and  Highway Commission.  We were all invited to a wonderful evening reception and dinner at the NW Arkansas Botanical Garden.  After dinner, UofA Chancellor, Dave Gearhart was the speaker/MC.  He began by acknowledging the media coverage of the firing reminding us he could say very little because of the pending appeal process.  However, he did say “I have never been so proud of a University of Arkansas employee than I was of Athletic Director, Jeff Long for the way he handled all aspects of this high profile situation.”  With that, approximately 300 people gave a standing applause of unanimous approval.
Clearly, the entire leadership deserves praise for making Arkansas proud … proud of the courage, integrity and character it took to stand on principle … the “Do Right Principle”.

Jeff Long is my hero of the week

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